Gertrude Bell
Born 14 July 1868 in County Durham. Died in 12 July 1926.
Gertrude Bell was writer, traveller, political officer and archaeologist, later referred to as Britain’s ‘Queen of the desert’.
She was educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. She was a precocious and gifted scholar and travelled the world twice.
In the 1920’s she helped create the national borders in the Near East, especially the modern state of Iraq. She translated Persian poetry and carried out archaeological work in Turkey and Mesopotamia. Gertrude Bell argued in favour of Iraqi self-government, established its borders and founded its National Museum.
She was also a pioneering photographer, documenting her globe trotting and archaeological work in thousands of images which are now archived with her papers and working library at Newcastle University.
Gertrude Bell was writer, traveller, political officer and archaeologist, later referred to as Britain’s ‘Queen of the desert’.
She was educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. She was a precocious and gifted scholar and travelled the world twice.
In the 1920’s she helped create the national borders in the Near East, especially the modern state of Iraq. She translated Persian poetry and carried out archaeological work in Turkey and Mesopotamia. Gertrude Bell argued in favour of Iraqi self-government, established its borders and founded its National Museum.
She was also a pioneering photographer, documenting her globe trotting and archaeological work in thousands of images which are now archived with her papers and working library at Newcastle University.
